Whether on US shores or closer to home, plenty of impressive cars and automobiles have trundled and roared their way across our TV screens over the years. So, from the classic cars we grew up with to newer additions, here’s what our guest blogger from The Car People thinks have been the best ever television vehicles.
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Jaguar MK2, Inspector Morse (1987-2000)
Unusually, the same burgundy Mk II Jaguar was featured in all 33 episodes of this popular detective series; in 2005, a UK-based businessman paid over £100,000 for it.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Ford Capri Mk II, The Professionals (1977-1983)
As car chases played such a central role in this action-packed crime drama, the gold and silver Ford Capris driven by Bodie and Doyle became almost as well-known as the actors.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
GMC G15 van, The A-Team (1983-1987)
An awesome TV show needs an equally awesome vehicle… The crime-fighting A-Team spent four years riding around together in their GMC G15 van (adding to the drama by occasionally knocking down a huge pile of empty cardboard boxes, of course).
Maserati Quattroporte, Entourage (2004-2011)
This beautiful Italian car played such a key role in Entourage that it even had an episode named after it in season 2 (‘My Maserati does 185’).
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Customised Lincoln Futura Concept, Batman (1966-1968)
OK, it might not be as sophisticated as the cars we’ve seen in the recent Batman films, but the customised Lincoln Futura Concept featured in the original TV series was ground-breaking for its day.
Image Credit: 1966batmobile.com
Ford Consul, The Sweeney (1975-1978)
Detective Inspector Jack Regan will always be associated with his trusty Ford Consul, but what you might not remember is that he never actually got behind the wheel himself as he always had a driver!
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Ford Gran Torino, Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979)
Starsky’s two-door Ford Grand Torino – red with a large white stripe along the sides – earned the nickname ‘striped tomato’; numerous versions of the car were completely destroyed during the four-year run of this stunt-filled TV series.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (‘KITT’), Knight Rider (1982-1986)
KITT, the artificially intelligent, indestructible car that worked alongside Michael Knight in his fight against crime, cost $100,000 to build.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Dodge Charger (‘The General Lee’), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)
Perhaps the most famous TV car of all time, the General Lee, with its welded doors and distinctive horn blow, appeared in almost every episode of this popular TV series.
Reliant Regal, Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003)
Who can forget the Trotters’ classic three-wheeler? The original van’s now on display in the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, while boxer Ricky Hatton is the proud owner of two of the ‘back-up’ cars, which he bought for £44,000 in 2007.
I’m a guest blogger from The Car People and came up with the idea for this when watching Entourage on TV. Can you think of anymore on your travels? There must be some more famous cars on TV over the years but it’s hard to keep up with them all…
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Ford Capri Mk II
